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A former SAPS employee from Mthatha and a local petrol attendant have been arrested for defrauding the State of more than R110 000.
The policeman, who was attached to the Criminal Records Centre in Mthatha, allegedly misused the petrol card of one of the state vehicles.
Police Spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni says it is alleged that the SAPS member, for an entire year, colluded with a petrol attendant who swiped the government fuel card in exchange for cash.
He says it is alleged that he kept telling his station Commander that the vehicle was not fit for driving due to a mechanical fault and for a year kept saying that the vehicle was in the garage.
Captain Tonjeni says the policeman also used the SAPS vehicle, that was allegedly broken, to travel to several destinations in the Province, from Mount Ayliff to Aliwal North.
He says in May this year, the manager at the Bityi petrol station noticed the irregular use of the petrol card and alerted the Commander.
As soon as the investigation was launched, both the SAPS member and petrol attendant resigned from their jobs.
The former SAPS member remains in custody and will be back in court on the 17th of September for a formal bail application.
The petrol attendant was granted bail of R500.
